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an old painting of a man with a beard and a woman holding a sword
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60 - The Sacrifice of Isaac Roman School, second half of the 17th…
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Estimate €7,000 - €10,000
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Description
The Sacrifice of Isaac Roman School, second half of the 17th century Oil on canvas 147 x 115 cm The painting depicts the climax of the Old Testament episode, when the angel intervenes to stop Abraham in the moment immediately before the sacrifice of his son Isaac. The composition is centred on the imposing figure of the patriarch, depicted in an energetic and highly sculptural pose, whilst the young Isaac, positioned lower down, accentuates the dramatic tension of the scene.The work is part of the artistic climate of Roman painting in the second half of the seventeenth century, showing affinities with the Tenebrist movement that developed around the work of Pier Francesco Mola, Giacinto Brandi and Giovanni Battista Beinaschi. Within this same context, a comparison with Girolamo Troppa is particularly significant; the robust anatomical construction of the figures, the strong characterisation of the faces, the warm skin tones emerging from the shadows, and a conception of the sacred scene that is both naturalistic and monumental all echo his artistic language.It is precisely in relation to Troppa’s work that one can discern similarities in the compactness of the composition, the restrained theatricality of the gestures, the solid physical presence of the protagonists and the use of concentrated light, capable of isolating the bodies against a predominantly dark background. The colour palette, based on browns and earthy tones, as well as the small landscape vista in the background, also finds parallels in the Roman figurative art of these decades. Within a frame.
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About the sale Paintings and Drawings from the 15th to the 19th century
Auction location
Auction time 10/29/2026 at 3:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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